A number of University museum collections will be experienced in brand new ways following investment from the national development body for Scotland's museums.
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) have announced details of twelve projects that have been given the green light for support, and are set to benefit from a share of just under £500k of funding from their Museum Development Fund. The investment will enable three museums to re-envisage their collections through a 21st century lens, launch reminiscence sessions, and work on audience development.
The University of Aberdeen Museums will receive just over £46,000 to improve the care and documentation of North American items, many of which are Indigenous in origin. Enhanced information on around 2250 items will strengthen the University's online collections database, which will be shared with Indigenous community-controlled portals. The University will employ a Curatorial Assistant to carry out much of this work and will run workshops and a public lecture to share learning.
Project lead at the University of Aberdeen Museums, Dr Lisa Collinson, said:
“We’re thrilled to have been awarded this grant, which will allow us not only to improve the care of thousands of items from North America, but also to share many of these globally, and deepen our understanding of them by working with partners such as the Reciprocal Research Network, the Chickasaw Nation Department of Culture and Humanities, and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Historic Preservation Department.”
Other projects to receive MGS support focus on digitising collections to make them more accessible to the public and researchers, as well as improvements to buildings that will enable better access to previously restricted or unseen items. A number of awards will also fund the creation of new posts to undertake project management, business development, curatorial, and digitisation roles.
Lucy Casot, Chief Executive Officer at Museums Galleries Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to be able to support so many projects in museums across Scotland. Museums are safe spaces that reflect the world we live in, so it is entirely appropriate that we should invest in ensuring they remain relevant in today’s diverse society. Lots of the projects involve elements of digitisation which will enable the museums to improve their accessibility, and we are also keen to support the creation of new jobs in the museums sector, which many of these projects will deliver.”
Further details about the fund are available on the MGS website.